A total of 20 teams contested the league, consisting of 17 who competed the previous season and three that were promoted from France's second division Ligue 2.
Bordeaux consecutively won their last 11 league games of the season and clinched the title on 30 May 2009 after the 1–0 victory against Caen.
Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Lille all secured European football for the 2009–10 season through their league position.
Lens were relegated to the Ligue 2 after 17 seasons of continuous membership in the top football league of France, while Strasbourg and Metz made their immediate return to the second level.
Source: Ligue 1 (in French) André-Pierre Gignac won the Trophée du Meilleur Buteur.